Jim, as one hammer to another, you have hit the nail right on the head: these words have "baggage" that we have to be wary of. I don't think any of us here are really disagreeing with each other in substance (to use another word full of ancient baggage), but only in semantics.
Jim Cobabe wrote: > John W. Redelfs wrote: > --- > The idea that he made all the laws included those by which he progressed > to become a God is a Protestant idea. It is akin to creating something > from nothing, which of course is impossible even for God. > --- > > One of the problems we encounter in discussing such ideas is the inertia > of a massive Catholic and Protestant lexicon, which intrudes everywhere > with false ideas and distortions of the truth. The "omni" words are > overburdened in this sense, and it would probably simplify things if we > just abandoned them and coined our own "ideosyncratic" terms with our > own unique definitions. > > Joseph Smith's teachings clearly indicate that our spirits were > coeternal with God, from before the beginning of time, but that God > instituted the laws in the premortal world which constitute for us the > plan of salvation. These are the natural laws to which I make > reference. > > "God himself," the Prophet says, "finding he was in the midst of spirits > and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws > whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The > relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in > knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker > intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might > have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, powers, glory, and > intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of > spirits." (Teachings, p. 354.) > > Thus the plan of salvation (of redemption, and of exaltation) comprises > all of the laws, ordinances, principles, and doctrines by conformity to > which the spirit offspring of God have power to progress to the high > state of exaltation enjoyed by the Father. > (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, > 1966], 575.) > > He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all > things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all > things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and > all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever. > > And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, > by which they move in their times and their seasons;(D&C 88:41-42) > > --- > Mij Ebaboc > > ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > -- Marc A. Schindler Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada -- Gateway to the Boreal Parkland “Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give lustre, and many more people see than weigh.” – Lord Chesterfield Note: This communication represents the informal personal views of the author solely; its contents do not necessarily reflect those of the author’s employer, nor those of any organization with which the author may be associated. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^^=============================================================== This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^^===============================================================
